Screen Rant’s 10 Most Anticipated Horror Movies of 2013

Ready for a year of straight slasher flicks, horror anthologies, paranormal entities, home invasions, and more? 2013 is due to cover just about every corner of the horror genre – including remakes, adaptations, and even a few original ideas, too.

There’s dozens of prospective nightmare-inducing productions on the way (or already in theaters), but we’ve narrowed it down to the 10 that pack the most promising source material, stellar teams of talent, innovative core concepts and/or the potential for unprecedented carnage.

It’s a remake of Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult classic; how could this not make the list? Still, there’s a chance first time feature director Fede Alavrez’s work might not live up to the hype, but if the film’s red-band teaser trailer is any indication, 2013’s Evil Dead could be the most gorgeously shot display of carnage you see all year.

In hopes of keeping the country crime-free all year, the government sanctions one special night for US citizens to unleash their aggression by suspending all emergency services and making all crime legal for a 12-hour stretch.

Whether The Purge works or not, it’s an ingenious concept that comes with the fun of wondering how you’d fare in such a situation.

Alexandre Aja could go two-for-two this year with both Maniac and Horns. With Maniac, he takes on writing and producing roles for the remake of the 1980 William Lustig film – and between the almost too-perfect casting of Elijah Wood in the lead role and the film’s POV storytelling technique, this one could be particularly unsettling by not only putting you in the mind of the killer, but giving you a first-hand view of his grisly obsession.

VHS successfully put the horror anthology format back on the map (read our review) and now the sequel has hopes of solidifying it as a viable form of storytelling amidst an almost entirely feature-length market. VHS vets Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett are back and are joined by Jason Eisener (Hobo with a Shotgun), Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption), Timo Tjahjanto, Gregg Hale and Edúardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project) – and if you know anything about the new gang’s previous films, it’s obvious that VHS 2 will likely show off four smart, vibrant, and deeply disturbing shorts.

Great source material, the ideal director, a stellar cast, and highly promising test screenings. The Conjuring is without a doubt the most anticipated horror movie of 2013, and one with franchise potential at that. The Conjuring focuses on one case in real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren’s archive, and should the filmwind up being the summer hit some are expecting, perhaps Warner Bros. will revert back to The Warren Files title and make a franchise out of it.

You’re Next has been simmering on the film festival circuit for quite some time now, but there’s a method to Lionsgate’s madness. The home invasion film already amassed a following and the studio’s marketing efforts continue to make a mark, courtesy of those eerie animal masks.

Come August, with a full month between this and The Conjuring, horror fans could be foaming at the mouth for more carnage, giving You’re Next a solid shot against two other notable wide releases.

Considering what James Wan managed to achieve with a mere $1.5 million budget, it’s no wonder Insidious wound up taking in $97 million worldwide and earning a sequel. The narrative in film one didn’t necessarily leave the door open for another go-around, but with the entire original team returning to make Chapter Two, Wan and writer Leigh Whannell must have something smart brewing for the Lambert’s next trip into The Further.

The idea of Daniel Radcliffe donning a pair of horns is bound to attract some attention, but the fact that his upcoming feature also rocks source material from acclaimed author Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) and is being directed by Alexandre Aja (Piranha, High Tension) suggests Horns has the potential to hit the ideal balance between physical and psychological terror.

This one isn’t just bringing back a genre classic; it’s doing so with a nearly ideal team of talent. Versatility aside, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa might be the wild card because he doesn’t really have anything on his resume to suggest he was the man for this job, but regardless, it’s tough to imagine a collaboration between director Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry), Chloe Moretz, and Julianne Moore resulting in a feature below a certain standard.

Paranormal Activity 4 should have extinguished the franchise’s hype, but the once innovative scenario still has enough zest to keep it a Halloween staple. The fifth installment, not to be confused with the Latino Paranormal Activity spin-off, supposedly first went into production in the spring so few plot details have surfaced, but hopefully the filmmakers will nix new neighbors and take a cue from Paranormal Activity 2 and 3 by offering up another narrative that cleverly builds upon what’s already been established.

This list only scratches the surface of the impending barrage of carnage and nightmares on the way. Whether you’re into the thrill of a slasher-style attack, the unease of a thoughtful peek inside the mind of a psychopath, or prefer to be left on the lookout for paranormal entities, there’s a little something for everyone.

Tell us which 2013 release boasts the form of horror you’re looking forward to experiencing most.